I'm definitely looking . . . lumpier. Awesome.

How far along? 19 weeks 1 day.
Size of baby: If we're going to keep going with the fruit comparisons (and why stop now?), baby is about the size of a mango. From head to bum, s/he's six inches long and a little over half a pound. I kind of can't believe there's something that big inside of me. 
Sleep: Still sleeping well. Still having crazy dreams. 
Total weight gain: Unsure. I haven't been on a scale since my last appointment.
Unglamorous body changes: This is almost certainly a result of the colder weather rather than pregnancy (though I suppose pregnancy can also have an effect), but my hands have been all dry and scaly off and on this week. 
Best moment this week: Jacob and I went on a date to another hockey game this week (this time for an actual major league team), which was a lot of fun. And on Thursday my friends and I had our monthly Pinterest party, which always has good times for all involved.
Movement: I think I can finally label the sensations I've been feeling as baby moving. Sometimes I just feel pressure, and sometimes I feel stronger flutters. It's getting a little more frequent but I still only feel the baby a few times a day, if that. Haven't felt anything from the outside yet.
Maternity clothes: Wednesday Jacob and I went to DI and I bought a pair of maternity pants because I'm down to one pair of work pants that I can actually button, and even those are getting snug. They seemed to fit just fine in the dressing room (and actually fit fairly well in the bum, which is a rare find among pants for me), but when I wore them to school the next day I had to keep pulling them up because I guess my waist isn't big enough to fill them out. I may set them aside for another week or so. 
Food cravings/aversions: Perhaps fried bread. Not all the time, but over the course of the pregnancy I've made a funnel cake and scones, and at the hockey game I wanted a churro. And french fries, of course. Again, I think it's the smell that makes me want them so much. 
Symptoms: I've had a few more symptoms this week. I had heartburn one night this week. Also on Monday I experienced a foot cramp so painful as to bring me to tears (is it possible to have a charley horse in your foot?), which spurred Jacob to massage my foot even though I was wearing leeches. An act of true love right there -- Jacob hates touching both feet and my nylons. Later that evening I also experienced some back pain which caused me to hobble around the house with Jacob's support, but I was fine after maybe ten minutes. I've also been getting some mild headaches this week, but I'm wondering if those have been resulting from me adjusting to my glasses. Looking at this list, it sounds like a lot of ailments, but really, I'm feeling really good overall. 
Currently looking forward to: Our ultrasound on Friday! I can't decide if I'm going to tell my students about my pregnancy on Friday before the ultrasound or on the next Tuesday before Thanksgiving break. 
Realization of the week: We have to name this baby. Which means we have to agree on a name. Which means we should probably start discussing names. You'd think that with all the time we've had to brainstorm, we'd have at least a short list of names, but such is not the case. How on earth do my in-laws have their names picked out and announced as soon as they know the gender? I have a feeling we're not going to have a name until just before we come home from the hospital.
Other tidbits: Baby is developing vernix over the skin and the five senses in the brain. Also, this morning when Jacob came home from work, we were cuddling in bed and he started to sing. (I thiiiink he was singing "I Believe I Can Fly," but I don't quite remember.) After he finished singing, I told him to keep singing for the baby. He then started singing "I'm Sexy and I Know It." I responded, "Not THAT song!"

How far along? 18 weeks.
Size of baby: We've got a little sweet potato! Baby is now 5.6 inches and 6.7 ounces. You know, assuming s/he's average.
Sleep: Not much to report! This week I've gone to bed a little earlier than normal because I've been exhausted. Parent teacher conferences, anyone? And yet, on my day off today I still woke up at 5:30 as usual, despite turning my alarm off.
Total weight gain: If we start by my lowest weight at my OB's office (when I thought I lost 4 pounds), +8. 
Unglamorous body changes: Conversation from earlier this week:
Jacob: Are you getting something by your mouth? (I think he was referring to the possibility of a cold sore.)
Me: A zit.
Jacob: Well, at least you're not all break-y out-y over your forehead.
Me: Is that supposed to make me feel better?
Jacob: Yep!
Best moment this week: Tough call. Was it overhearing one of my students tell another that "Mrs. Erickson is so much better than (insert name of 3rd grade teacher)"? Having parents tell me how much their children are enjoying school? Hearing the heartbeat again today? Finally getting glasses? Not having to go to work today? Actually, going out to dinner with my sister Emily and hanging out with her afterward for the last time before she entered the MTC probably tops the list.
Movement: I'm still hesitant to label anything I feel as a result of baby moving, but I have been feeling little pulses in my lower abdomen here and there. 
Maternity clothes: Still wearing the belly band. Today I busted out a pair of jeans I haven't worn in ages because I would be able to take them off without unbuttoning them pre-pregnancy. And . . . they still slide off without unbuttoning. Score. 
Food cravings/aversions: Jacob and I get Costco rewards through our credit card, so we recently got a check in the mail. On Monday we used it to buy a cheesecake. Let's not mention that there are only 2 of us and the cheesecake weighs 5.5 pounds. We still have half of it left, but I do believe a piece is calling my name . . . 
Symptoms: Not much, really. (Other pregnant women who are having miserable pregnancies, please don't hurt me.)
Currently looking forward to: Finding out the gender! We originally had our anatomy ultrasound scheduled for today after my doctor's appointment, but when we scheduled it the receptionist "strongly encouraged" us to wait until 20 weeks. Earlier this week I rescheduled it for 2 weeks from today, based on that recommendation. And then my doctor told me he was surprised anyone told us because once you hit 18 weeks the ultrasounds are pretty accurate. So we have the green light to reschedule again! (I'm waiting for Jacob to wake up so we can figure out a time that works for both of us.) I hope they can squeeze us in soon! 
ETA: I originally wrote this post around 10:30 in the morning. At 3, when I bounded into the bedroom to wake Jacob up, we discussed when a good time would be to reschedule our ultrasound. Visions of getting in on Tuesday or Wednesday danced in my head. I called up the maternal diagnostic center, told the receptionist that our doctor said I could have the ultrasound at any point from today on, and was told AGAIN that they wanted to get as close to 20 weeks as possible. So they would've scheduled us only a couple days earlier, if that. Defeated, I said we'd just keep our current appointment and hung up. And then I dissolved into tears. Oh, the woe.
Realization of the week: So far our baby items include exactly the following: 2 outfits (neither of which are really gender neutral) and a toy that can hang from a car seat handle or play gym. We have a little person coming to stay in 5 months. Time to start shopping! 
Other tidbits: My doctor said that I'm pretty much a rockstar patient as far as blood pressure and weight gain and such. Everything is looking good! Baby's heart rate was 140 beats per minute. I could listen to that sound for minutes. (I'd say "hours", but let's be real, it might get a little bothersome after a while.)

How far along? 17 weeks.
Size of baby: The size of an onion; a little over 5 inches and just under 6 ounces. (Side note: the measurements up to 20 weeks are from "crown to rump"; after 20 weeks, the measurements will include baby's legs as well.)
Sleep: Things are going just dandy in this department. The random dreams continue to be a nightly occurrence. 
Total weight gain: +5.5 pounds.
Unglamorous body changes: I have a ton of blackheads this week. Also (gentlemen, don't read this), the veins in my chest actually protrude from the surface of the skin, making the ladies feel all sorts of lumpy and deformed. 
Best moment this week: Halloween fell on a short school day this year! And I didn't have to go to work today! (It's still a teacher work day, where we have to spend at least 3 hours getting report cards ready. I've already spent an hour on them so far this morning and I'm sure I have many more to go. But still: let the parents deal with their sugar-high children.)
Movement: I'm not sure if I've been feeing flutterings or if I've just been feeling the process of digestion. Nothing that's made me think, "oh, that's definitely the baby!" 
Maternity clothes: Just the belly band with certain pairs of pants. 
Food cravings/aversions: I may or may not have partaken in quite a bit of candy leftover from my class's Halloween party yesterday. But that was mostly because it was available and delicious and less because I was craving it. Also, right now I really want some clementines. WHY don't we have any?
Symptoms: I don't know if this has been the result of hormones or just being stretched too thin (last week I had training for 3+ hours every single day after school and this week I've been trying to get report cards ready for Parent Teacher conferences), but I've been a bit more moody and weepy this week. My gums also started bleeding after flossing one night and I've had a couple minor nosebleeds as well.
Currently looking forward to: Being done with Parent Teacher Conferences. Before that, finishing report cards. And, I don't know, maybe actually looking pregnant.
Realization of the week: I started looking at baby gear this week (car seats, carriers, cribs, and the like) and got a little panicky about which brands to choose and how pricey everything was. And then it hit me: we've already spent over $20,000 on this baby! What's a few piddling hundred dollars on some of the big ticket items, am I right?
Other tidbits: (Paraphrased) conversation between Jacob and I earlier this week: 
Me (Lifting up my shirt and examining my stomach in the mirror): I'm still not really showing yet.
Jacob: Sure you are! You're sucking in. Let it all hang out.
Me: (Does as instructed.)
Jacob: See? You've got a nice little pooch there.
Me: (Immediately sucks stomach back in.) You should not call it that. 

How far along? 16 weeks 1 day.
Size of baby: The size of an avocado; just over four and a half inches and 3.5 oz. 
Sleep: I've been sleeping pretty well, although my dreams continue to be odd. I'm trying to train myself to sleep on my left side because supposedly that's better for circulation, and it seems to be going well. Also, I now go to bed around my usual time of 10:30, so I'm less of a grandma than I used to be.
Total weight gain: Remember that time I don't own a scale? According to the gym, which may or may not be super reliable, +6. And I'm pretty sure most of that's in my chest. 
Unglamorous body changes: I am bustin' out of my bra these days. Which is super attractive. And I think I'm looking a little more chubby in the abdominal region, but it doesn't look like I'm obviously pregnant yet.
Best moment this week: I'm going to have to say visiting my family in California last weekend! My sister is leaving on her mission in a few weeks, so we went down for her farewell. It was so fun seeing all my relatives and spending time with the family. We had a picnic in a park; went paddle boating; walked along the beach; went to the temple; went out to dinner; bought a bunch of sugary snacks and gorged ourselves while playing card games; and had a family luncheon after Emily's fantastic farewell talk. It was pretty great. 
Movement: Not so much. Maybe soon?
Maternity clothes: My sister let me borrow her belly band she used when she was pregnant, and I wore that one day with my work pants. 
Food cravings/aversions: I've decided that the only thing I really crave would be french fries. And that's usually only when I smell them. (A runner up would be mashed potatoes. But again, it isn't often.)
Symptoms: Let's just say my bowels have been a bit . . . temperamental these days. Nothing miserable, but definitely out of the norm. Also, I feel the need to empty my bladder on a more regular basis, but when I do use the loo, only a relatively small amount of urine is released. My bladder must be getting cramped.
Other tidbits: I realized with this post that I may be revealing way TMI on the Internets. Do I dare make this blog public when I discuss my bras, bowels, and bladder? (Which reminds me, I taught my class the phrase "TMI" in relation to word problems that give too much numerical information. So if I ask them "What's the TMI?" they know exactly what I mean. Bahaha.) Also, our baby can now hear! Jacob talked to my stomach after I told him this fact and it was pretty adorable.

No picture this week, due to a fairly busy weekend and no noticeable change in the ol' belly region.

How far along? 14 weeks 1 day.
Size of baby: The size of a lemon; about three and a half inches and 1.5 oz. 
Sleep: I think I'm getting a little more energy back, because I've been able to stay up until 10 most nights this week. I only have to wake up in the middle of the night to pee if I don't go right before bed.
Total weight gain: Holding steady at +2. 
Unglamorous body changes: I suppose the flawless skin couldn't last forever! My face and back broke out a little bit this week, but at least it only lasted a couple days.
Best moment this week: Hard to pick just one! It was my birthday this week, so we were able to celebrate that after my appointment where we heard the heartbeat again. We announced the pregnancy to the masses, which was fun. Then yesterday we went to the Josh Groban concert, which was fantastic. (Of course, the opening act had a lot of heavy bass, so I kept feeling vibrations throughout my body and I felt all sorts of guilty that our baby was possibly being rattled around in there. At least I know the baby's hearing hasn't developed yet, so it shouldn't suffer any hearing loss. Fingers crossed.)
Movement: Yeah . . . no. But I might be able to feel something in two more weeks if I'm lucky!
Maternity clothes: Nope. Though I did unbutton my jeans after going out to eat before the concert yesterday. (I know; I keep it classy.) I had a food baby on top of a regular baby!
Food cravings/aversions: Nothing is immediately coming to mind.
Symptoms: So, the pinching in the uterus I mentioned last week? Pretty sure those weren't round ligament pains. One night this week I felt this almost RIPPING sensation from my waist to my groin while I was in bed. Ouch. It didn't last very long, fortunately. I'm guessing that was round ligament pain. I also had a bit of heartburn for a little while one day, but that didn't last long, either.
Other tidbits: I've made it to second trimester! One-third of the way done! I told my principal yesterday, too, and he seemed happy for me. (I was pretty nervous about telling him, so I'm glad that's out of the way!)

I know some women say that vivid dreams are a symptom of pregnancy. I don't know if I'd really consider my dreams to be any more vivid than usual, but I've always had some really strange dreams. To the effect that Jacob describes my dreams as "crazy old Maurice" dreams. (Beauty and the Beast, anyone? Anyone?)

Here's the latest one I had:

Jacob and I were still unsuccessfully trying to have a baby, but in this dream, humans had babies by laying eggs and then sitting on them like chickens. As it turned out, whenever I sat on our eggs, the shells cracked. So we were seeing a scientist who was attempting to genetically engineer our eggs to have harder shells.

And then, when we were finally successful, my coworker (who's either in her 50s or 60s), lent me her maternity clothes because she had just had a baby a few months prior. Don't ask me why I needed maternity clothes if I was just sitting on our eggs. Or why I was sitting on the eggs, for that matter. Sometimes dreams just don't make any sense.

The end.

How far along? 13 weeks 1 day.
Size of baby: The size of a peach; just under three inches. Oh, peaches!
Sleep: I'm able to stay up later at night without crashing, and then I do fall asleep right away when I go to bed, but I wake up really easily these days. Since Jacob and I have different sleep schedules, when he comes to bed a few hours after me it usually wakes me up and then I have a harder time falling asleep. Some nights I seem to toss and turn a bit after I fall asleep initially. 
Total weight gain: According to the gym, +2. This makes me think that the scales at the RE's office, my OB's office, and the gym are vastly different, because I really don't think I've gained six pounds in the last two weeks. But a gain of two pounds overall seems reasonable at this point.
Unglamorous body changes: I haven't really noticed any changes in the last week. Maybe an increase in ear wax? And possibly an increase in stomach flab. Hence, going to the gym. (I had held off going for a while after the miscarriage scare.)
Best moment this week: We finally announced our pregnancy to the rest of our family members yesterday!
Movement: Yeah . . . no.
Maternity clothes: I tried the ol' rubber band through the button hole trick on a pair of pants that seemed a bit snug this week. It may have made my pants technically buttoned, perhaps, but that did nothing to stop the zipper from falling down! I may have to set that pair aside or just wear it with really long shirts. 
Food cravings/aversions: This category is getting boring. Still nothing!
Symptoms: My back has been feeling better, which is joyous. My nose has been more congested at night, which I thought was because I was getting a cold, but it hasn't gone away and it started seven weeks ago, which makes me suspicious. I've also been feeling little pinches around my uterus. Perhaps these are the round ligament pains everyone speaks of? 
Other tidbits: It's getting harder to suck in my stomach all the way. I wonder how long I'll be able to hold off telling my students. (Or my boss, for that matter.) Oh, and I finally stopped bleeding this week! I'll still feel better after hearing the heartbeat at our next appointment this Thursday.